Amjad Javed is a homegrown Emirati cricketer and an adventurous allrounder of considerable talent. While he lacks real pace with the ball, Javed is an accurate and tenacious seamer, with the ability to swing the ball away and a first-class average of under 25. Despite a modest record with the bat in ODI and T20I cricket, some of Javed's most impressive feats have involved scoring quick runs - and lots of them.

He's batted in virtually every position in the top eight, and having been asked to open the batting, he blitzed a 117-ball 164 against Denmark in 2009 - a knock he still ranks as his best. He was at it again against Kenya at the World Cup Qualifiers in January 2014, slamming 63 off just 31 deliveries from No. 8 to help end Kenya's streak of five consecutive World Cup appearances and put UAE within touching distance of their first since 1996. As with many of UAE's cricketers, Javed works in the airline industry. He's a cargo supervisor for Emirates, and has also captained their team in the local club league. His trip to the 2015 World Cup will fulfill a long-cherished dream.Liam Brickhill